The Land Beyond the Blow (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. (After the method of Swift, who followed Lucian, and was himself followed by Voltaire and many others)By Ambrose Bierce
Length3h 58m
About this audiobook
The Land Beyond the Blow is one of Ambrose Bierce's sharpest exercises in satirical fantasy, presenting an imagined realm whose customs expose the hypocrisies of supposedly civilized society. Written in a compact, mordant prose, it belongs to the tradition of Swiftian travel allegory, where absurd institutions and grotesque logic become instruments of moral criticism. Bierce's irony is severe but controlled, turning fantasy into a lens through which law, politics, religion, and public virtue appear disturbingly familiar. Bierce's authorship is inseparable from the book's tone. A Civil War veteran, journalist, critic, and master of the epigram, he wrote from a lifetime of proximity to violence, corruption, and rhetorical deceit. His experiences in battle and in the newspaper world sharpened his distrust of sentimental pieties and social pretenses. The bleak humor found here reflects the same intelligence that shaped The Devil's Dictionary and his finest war stories. Readers interested in literary satire, nineteenth-century American skepticism, or the darker currents of comic writing will find The Land Beyond the Blow both entertaining and intellectually bracing. It is especially rewarding for those who appreciate fiction that uses fantasy not as escape, but as a disciplined method of exposing reality.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★ 3.0 (17)
Includes Goodreads
GenreHumor, Fantasy
Length3 hrs 58 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJul 10, 2013
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The Land Beyond the Blow (Annotated)
11The Dog in Ganegwag
2Introduction
12A Conflagration in Ghargaroo
3Synopsis
13An Execution in Batrugia
4Historical Context
14The Jumjum of Gokeetle-Guk
5Author Biography
15The Kingdom of Tortirra
Show all chaptersShow less
6Thither
16Hither
7Sons of the Fair Star
17Analysis
8An Interview with Gnarmag-Zote
18Reflection
9The Tamtonians
19Memorable Quotes
10Marooned on Ug
Diccionario del DiabloAmbrose Bierce4h 55m4.2 (12.8K)$1.99 · $0.00
The Fiend's Delight (novella + short stories + poetry) (Annotated)Ambrose Bierce5h 41m$2 · $0.00
Tales of Soldiers and Civilians (Annotated)Ambrose Bierce10h 2m$2 · $0.00
The Parenticide Club (My Favorite Murder + Oil of Dog + An Imperfect Conflagration + The Hypnotist) (Annotated)Ambrose Bierce2h 1m$2 · $0.00
A Cynic Looks at Life (Essays on the death penalty, emancipated women and more) (Annotated)Ambrose Bierce2h 58m3.3 (89)$2 · $0.00
Ashes of the Beacon: An Historical Monograph Written in 4930 (Unabridged) (Annotated)Ambrose Bierce3h 8m3.9 (23)$2 · $0.00
The Fourth Estate (4 Satirical Stories about Journalists and Politicians) (Annotated)Ambrose Bierce1h 48m$2 · $0.00
Negligible Tales (14 Unabridged Tales) (Annotated)Ambrose Bierce4h 7m4.1 (17)$2 · $0.00
Cuentos de soldados y civilesAmbrose Bierce9h 6m3.9 (120)$7 · $0.00
An Occurrence at Owl Creek BridgeAmbrose Bierce24m4.1 (32.4K)$1 · $0.00
Shapes of ClayAmbrose Bierce5h 8m3.4 (32)$2 · $0.00
Present at a Hanging and Other Ghost StoriesAmbrose Bierce2h 51m3.5 (701)$2 · $0.00
The Parenticide ClubAmbrose Bierce0m3.6 (597)$2 · $0.00
The Shadow On The Dial, and Other EssaysAmbrose Bierce7h 37m3.2 (24)$2 · $0.00
Diccionario del DiabloAmbrose Bierce4h 54m4.2 (11.9K)$1.99 · $0.00
Ashes of the BeaconAmbrose Bierce2h 57m3.7 (11)$2 · $0.00
The Mocking-Bird (A Short Story From The American Civil War) (Annotated)Ambrose Bierce1h 45m4.5 (12)$2 · $0.00
The Damned Thing & Other Ambrose Bierce's Mysteries (4 Books in One Edition)Ambrose Bierce9h 13m$2 · $0.00
The Damned ThingAmbrose Bierce0m3.8 (2.3K)$1 · $0.00
Lost In TranslationAudrey Davis9h 15m4.4 (235)$17 · $0.00
Going PostalTerry Pratchett13h 36m4.5 (163.8K)$33 · $0.00
Woman UninterruptedBrodie Kane7h 1m4.6 (562)$24 · $0.00
1984 & Animal Farm (Annotated)George Orwell15h 54m4.5 (220.8K)$3.99 · $0.00
Kingsblood Royal (Annotated)Sinclair Lewis14h 42m4.6 (264)$2 · $0.00
This Is Going to HurtAdam Kay5h 47m4.4 (444.7K)$24 · $0.00
You Will Get Through This NightDaniel Howell6h 56m4.4 (11.8K)$24 · $0.00
Northanger Abbey (Annotated)Jane Austen10h 7m4.5 (1.6K)$2 · $0.00
My Dear HamiltonStephanie Dray, Laura Kamoie23h 7m4.4 (63.6K)$46 · $0.00
THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS & SCREWTAPE PROPOSES A TOAST (Annotated)C. S. Lewis5h 6m4.4 (471K)$2 · $0.00
BufferingHannah Hart5h 55m4.4 (12.4K)$24 · $0.00
The Office BFFsJenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey8h 26m4.3 (45.4K)$26 · $0.00
The Collected Stories of Dorothy ParkerDorothy Parker8h 36m4.3 (13.6K)$1 · $0.00
LambChristopher Moore15h 22m4.3 (211.3K)$33 · $0.00
#IMomSoHardKristin Hensley, Jen Smedley7h 19m4.3 (7.3K)$24 · $0.00
Mixed PlateJo Koy8h 18m4.3 (7.1K)$26 · $0.00
Over the TopJonathan Van Ness5h 50m4.3 (87.3K)$24 · $0.00
It Never EndsTom Scharpling8h 53m4.4 (2.3K)$20 · $0.00
More Tales of the CityArmistead Maupin8h 23m4.3 (22.6K)$26 · $0.00
Joyful Recollections of TraumaPaul Scheer6h 38m4.3 (8.2K)$7 · $0.00
Demon CopperheadBarbara Kingsolver21h 3m4.5 (949.4K)$46 · $0.00
Remarkably Bright CreaturesShelby Van Pelt11h 17m4.4 (1.7M)$29 · $0.00
Before the Coffee Gets Cold: A Toshikazu Kawaguchi Book SetToshikazu Kawaguchi18h 55m4.5 (1.4K)$40 · $0.00
The Song of AchillesMadeline Miller11h 15m4.3 (2.3M)$29 · $0.00
The Left and the LuckyWilly Vlautin6h 40m4.4 (1.1K)$24 · $0.00
Hunt of the DragonJuliette Cross9h 46m4.4 (736)$20
Deadly GameChristine Feehan13h 20m4.3 (15.8K)$30
Going PostalTerry Pratchett13h 36m4.5 (163.8K)$33 · $0.00
The Leo Tolstoy CollectionLeo Tolstoy9h 1m4.5 (4.9K)$12 · $0.00
Sword and ShadowMichelle Sagara16h 51m4.5 (2.2K)$40 · $0.00
A Tree Grows in BrooklynBetty Smith14h 55m4.4 (577.6K)$33 · $0.00
Dark GuardianChristine Feehan12h 32m4.5 (26.3K)$33 · $0.00
The Neil Gaiman ReaderNeil Gaiman27h 3m4.5 (3.2K)$53 · $0.00
The HobbitJ. R. R. Tolkien10h 51m4.4 (4.9M)$12 · $0.00
Bad HabitAlana S. Portero5h 37m4.4 (52.3K)$24 · $0.00
Science Fiction & Fantasy CollectionH. P. Lovecraft16h 32m4.5 (2.7K)$2 · $0.00
The Undead PoolKim Harrison16h 13m4.4 (34.6K)$33 · $0.00
The Edge of DawnBeverly Jenkins10h 15m4.5 (1.1K)$29 · $0.00
The Tapestry of FateShannon Chakraborty20h 2m4.4 (3.4K)$46 · $0.00
The Lack of LightNino Haratischwili26h 20m4.4 (9.2K)$53 · $0.00
You may also like
FlatlandEdwin Abbott Abbott4h 11m4.0 (216.2K)$5 · $0.00
FLATLAND: A Romance of Many DimensionsEdwin A. Abbott3h 23m4.0 (109.6K)Free
FLATLAND: A Romance of Many Dimensions Edwin A. Abbott3h 23m4.0 (251.5K)Free
FlatlandEdwin A. Abbott3h 55m4.0 (115.5K)$12
FlatlandEdward Abbott4h 11m4.0 (105.4K)$7 · $0.00
Men like GodsH. G. Wells8h 46m3.7 (1.8K)$17
Erewhon (A Dystopia)Samuel Butler9h 34m3.6 (9.9K)$1 · $0.00
Notes on Democracy (Annotated)H. L. Mencken6h 9m4.4 (484)$2 · $0.00
WHEN WILLIAM CAMESaki, H. H. Munro6h 21m3.7 (1.7K)$2 · $0.00
The Management MythMatthew Stewart11h 38m4.0 (1.5K)$21 · $0.00
EssaysGeorge Orwell1h 44m4.5 (14.5K)$2 · $0.00
Animal FarmGeorge Orwell4h 28m4.2 (5.1M)$1 · $0.00
RecessionalDavid Mamet6h 20m3.6 (2.1K)$24 · $0.00
The CrocodileFyodor Dostoyevsky2h 58m3.8 (8.5K)$2 · $0.00
Animal FarmGeorge Orwell3h 16m4.2 (5.1M)$1.20 · $0.00
Democracy, an American novelHenry Adams8h 59m3.6 (1.5K)$2 · $0.00
The Belly of ParisÉmile Zola16h 8m4.0 (9.9K)$1 · $0.00
ANIMAL FARMGeorge Orwell4h 29m4.2 (5M)$1 · $0.00
The Madness of the Masses – 3 Classic Absurdist SatiresWilliam Dean Howells, James Fenimore Cooper, Rudyard Kipling25h 21m$2
The Land Beyond the BlowAmbrose Bierce2h 21m3.0 (18)$2 · $0.00